It’s hard to remember a time where there wasn’t a problem with opioids. While issues with drug use have persisted throughout the years, things began escalating in the early 1990s. That’s the part of the opiate overdose timeline where there was a rise in deaths related to natural and synthetic opioid abuse. The next wave hit in 2010 when we experienced a number of deaths tied to the opioid heroin.
What Are the Dangers of Opioids?
Opioids are drugs used to treat patients with chronic pain conditions. They work well in situations when other medications fail to adequately alleviate a patient’s discomfort. Cancer patients are the most common recipient of opioid drugs.
Common opioid drugs prescribed for pain management include:
- Vicodin
- Morphine
- Percocet
- Codeine
- Oxycontin
Heroin is another form of opioid used for recreational drug purposes. Opioids are particularly addictive because of how they bind to receptors located in the brain, spinal cord, and other body organs that control pleasure. The opioids cause the release of dopamine, causing the user to experience euphoric feelings and want to repeat the experience.
Other harmful side effects tied to opioid use include:
- Feelings of drowsiness
- Bouts of confusion
- Feelings of nausea
- Slower breathing and other respiratory issues
- Gastrointestinal issues
Pregnant women who abuse opioids risk passing the addiction on to their fetus. Long-term opioid abuse often causes people to build up a tolerance. That forces them to take more opioids to experience the desired effect.
What Caused the Changes in the Opiate Overdose Timeline?
The rise of opioid overdose deaths in the early 90s can be traced to the efforts of pharmaceutical companies who produced opioid medications. They began encouraging the use of their products for non-pain related conditions. Before that, opioid use was much more limited, primarily to patients experience significant pain issues from cancer or other serious illnesses.
That led to a situation where 86 percent of patients were using opioids for non-cancer-related reasons. People also began illegally selling the drugs to others for profit. The next significant change in the opiate overdose timeline came in 2013. There was a rise in people using fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. At that point, the country saw a significant increase in overdoses and deaths related to those drugs.
How Are We Dealing With the Escalating Opiate Overdose Timeline?
The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) currently supports states in their efforts to combat the fallout from opioid abuse. They collect data and assist in responding to overdoses within different communities.
Another way the CDC assists in combating opioid overdoses is by supporting healthcare providers and different health systems. They offer tools, data, and guidelines to help them better decisions when it comes to treating those battling opioid addiction. The CDC also forms partnerships with public safety officials deal with the illicit opioid trade.
Learn the Skills Needed to Survive the Opiate Overdose Timeline
There’s no limit to the toll an opioid addiction takes on the lives of its victims. The best way to avoid succumbing to its effects is by getting treatment at a qualified facility. Oceanfront Recovery provides help and support to help people recover from the effects of opioid addiction.
Some of the programs and treatments offered by our center include:
- Opiate Addiction Treatment Center
- Heroin Addiction Treatment Center
- Residential Treatment Program
- Intensive Outpatient Program
By choosing to receive treatment for opioid addiction, you give yourself a chance at surviving the opiate overdose timeline and leading a healthy, productive life.
If you’re ready to start living a life free from the control of opioids, call Oceanfront Recovery today at 877.279.1777.
